Speed-indicating apparatus



Aug. 17, 1926.

P. GAMBAROTTA SPEED INDICATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 2.5, 1922 2 ShQGtS-Shfifit 1 P. GAMBA'ROTTA v SPEED INDICATING APPARATUS 1 Filed Oct. 26, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 usrrso s'raras rarest 0 FFICE.

PIERO GAMBAROTTA, OF QUINTO AL MARE, ITALY.

SPEED-INDICATING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 26, 1922, Seria The present invention has for its object an apparatus to be mounted especially upon vehicles in a positi visible not only to n in which it is perfectly the driver but also to passers-by (as, for instance, upon a front mudguard) with a view to indicating or signalling, at any instant, even to persons at a certain distance in front, at the sides or at the rear of the vehicle in motion, the

rate of speed at which it is travelling.

The speed indicatlng apparatus according to the invention primarily consists in balls, so painted that they i'erent appearance when rotatlng, said ive sensibly difwhen stationary and balls being maintained in rotation until a speed specially predetermined for it has been attained and are then brought to a standstill, and being again caused to rotate when the speed decreases to a lower rate than said speed.

predetermined Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure l is an elevation of an apparatus with two or more egg-shaped balls adapted to turn about their greater giving signals or indlcations or more speeds.

diametres for relative to two a dj usted vehicle attains 30 kilometres as to stop when the speed of the per hour.

'Figure 6 shows one of the other numerous forms and aspects which may be given to the balls.

Figure 7 epresents an apparatus with three or more spherical balls placed side by side, these balls being differently colored or painted and adapted to revolve about their horizontal diameters.

Figure 8 shows an apparatus with two superimposed balls for indicating or signalling two different speeds metres per hour).

Figures 9 and 10 show in (100 and 200 kilofront and side elevation respectively an apparatus with a spherical ball revolving about its at one end thereof,

axis and supported As will be seen from the su'bstantlally apparatus is composed horizontal drawings the of balls -nto each of which there corresponds a definite speed in kilometres peed 0 he aur li the per hour, this balls and upon.

1 No. 597,209, and in Italy November 24, 1921.

the support of the apparatus (for instance kilometres per hour 5, 20, 30, 40, 60,100, 200, etc.).

he main shaft of the apparatus must be driven with a speed proportionate to that of the vehicle, or of that of the engine mounted therein. I

Each ball is colored in contrasting tints (for instance in red and white, or black and white) and is driven in such a manner that if the speed lower than the limit for which the driving mechanism of the ball has been adjusted, the ball turns and consequently does not allow its coloring to whereas, if the vehicle exceeds such limit, the ball stops and allows its coloring to be seen distinctly even at a distance, the ball again beginning to turn directly the vehicle slows down to a speed below that for which the limit is fixed.

It is, therefore, clear that if we assume, for example, an apparatus with ten balls so adjusted as to stop respectively at 10, 20, 30, kilometres per hour, when the first five balls are seen to be motionless it will be understood that the vehicle is running at. a speed between and kilometres per hour; when the first three balls are seen to be motionless it will be understood that the vehicle is travelling at a speed between 30 and 40 kilometres per hour, and so on.

As shown in Figures 1, 4E and 5, each ball -w is formed in two hollow parts having flanges -nprovided with holes for screws or bolts '12- which, in conjunction with a ring Z- provided with a flange -Z- lying between the flanges -n, serve to assemble the parts together. Holes -z'-- are also provided for the lead-sealing wire -ythe ends of which are enclosed and sealed in the leadsea-l -7c (Fig. 4) for the purpose of preventing unauthorised handling of the adjustment of the device.

Each ball is rotated by means of a centrif of the vehicle in motion is be seen distinctly,

as to allow to. the body of sliding along the shaft Each end of the shaft 7' has a slot j in which a pin .j+ solid with the body 0- is located. A pin mounted at each end of the shaft j limits the displacement of the bodies -0- These bodies are each provided with an appendix -(z (Figures 1, 2 and 8) which may be arranged with rollers -r as shown in Fig. 3. hen the speed of the vehicle or machine is less than a given value, said, appendices a will carry along with them fashioned or profiled; plate [9 yieldahly mounted between sleeve -msurrounding the hub u of the ball and a nut a;- threaded on the free end of the tubular projection s-. of the support g. Uponthe said speed being increased abovethe said given value, the bodies 0 will move radially outwards, against the act on t the oun e a ngp s' of the governor arranged between the flange .t of the. sleeve t and a ring-plate -.g., and disengage the plate p so that the ball no longer revolves. The plate j2f may be fashioned or profiled in the form of two. semi-eccentrics connected along one diametre (Fig. 2) or else they may have an oval form (Fig. 3). Each plate p is suitably connected to the respective ball, by means of, a resilient member, for instance by means. (Fig.1) one end of it is connected plate while'thc; other is connected --u. secured, bymeans of screw. u to the flange u of the hub "u of the ball.

In Figures 2 and. 3 the appendices a of the bodies 0 are shownat the moment where they are about to disengage the plates to the The adjustment of the ball drivingmeclanism in, order that the balls may stop at Qtheli" threadedend of the sten +g a nut #2 is. mi le -e s, vhich' e lta t e' a d Qt e t 53' b i l nt action exerted on said nut the r gplate of a spiral spring (Z-.

to a ring i 1,5ee,345

g can be. displaced, thus. compressing more or less the counteracting spring an.

The support g of the apparatus has flanges fprovided with holes -+7L for attachment to the mudguard or elsewhere, and also with holes z" for the passage of another lead-sealing wire therethrough. Said support ecarries the transmission shaft g which is driven, either dir etly or through the medium of suitable transmission members, by the motor shaft of the vehicle or by suitablemember of the vehicle or machine. Fixed on said shaft q are gears cwhich mesh with other. gears c"- each ofwhich is fastened to one of the shafts g. These latter shafts are carried in hubs s projecting from the support g. The edge of the lower hole of each ball n restson a flange u of the corresponding hub u. A. ring u and screwsju,- s rves to secure the ball -nto the flange -u of the hub a.

If desired the balls, may be arranged to revolve on inclined, or horizontal igures 7, 9 and 10). or vertical (Figure 8) axes.

Having now particularly. described andascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to, be performed, I declare that what I claim is.:,

l. A speed indicating device comprising a ball having sections colored or painted in different colors; means to rotate; said ball until a predetermined rate ofspeed has been attained and means, effective at said predetermined. rate of speed, to release the ball and permit of same coming toa standstill and to cause saidball to again rotate when the speed again decreases below said predeterminedrate of speed.

2, A speed indicati: device comprising a main shaft which can be driven about its axis through transmission members from the motor shaft, ball axially and freely mounted on said main shaft, a substantially elliptic plate yieldingly connected to the hub' of said ball; a'centrifugal governor whose links are mounted on, and arranged for turning together with, said main shaft; another shaft fixed; to, and crossing normally, the said main shaft on which the bodies of centrifugal governor can slide a compression, spring counteracting the disp c men of he bodie t ent fugal governor, and projections from external ends face of said bodies bearing on the of loweroutline of said elliptic plate to rotate the ball, until a predetermined rate of speed tta n d. a d thereafte l a it to per mit D bo a? st t en r rln'testi nony whereofjl "fix my signature.

' eras GA. i rr 

